#exoticgarden

[jillraggett]

Plant of the Day

Sunday 6 October 2019

The highly scented cream flowers of Hedychium 'Devon Cream' (ginger lily) add an exotic touch to autumn. This cultivar is considered to be a cross of Hedychium gardnerianum and Hedychium coronarium and reliably produces flowers. The broad green leaves need a good water supply, and though a hardy herbaceous perennial it will require mulching for winter protection in colder areas.

Jill Raggett

[i-do-not-mean-it]

Quinta da Regaleira

[emmhobbs]

[jillraggett]

Plant of the Day

Thursday 28 November 2019

The foliage of Fatsia japonica 'Spider's Web' (Japanese aralia, false castor oil) will survive the winter. This evergreen shrub has leaves that are speckled with white, particularly densely at the edges, but this white variegation can sometimes spread across the whole leaf.

Jill Raggett

[jillraggett]

Plant of the Day

Tuesday 1 October 2019

The ideal tender perennials for an autumn display are the plant group known as the ‘Decorative Dahlias’ which have fully double flowerheads with flat or slightly incurved florets. A cultivar from this group includes the compact, herbaceous perennial Dahlia 'Crème de Cassis' with pale lilac petals with purple backs. The root tubers of these plants will need to be lifted and stored over the winter in a dark, cool, frost-free building.

Jill Raggett

[jillraggett]

Plant of the Day

Wednesday 27 November 2019

In the Exotic Garden at Great Dixter, Sussex, UK, the Musa basjoo (Japanese banana) have their cosy, insulated, winter jackets on! This root-hardy evergreen perennial produces arching lance-shaped leaves up to 3m long, and sometimes spikes of cream flowers followed by inedible green fruits. The stems have been encased in hay (straw can be used) as winter protection to keep them as dry and frost-free as possible.

Jill Raggett

[jillraggett]

Plant of the Day

Wednesday 16 October 2019

The Exotic Garden at Great Dixter, Sussex, UK, has a great range of plants with distinctive foliage including Boehmeria sieboldiana (Siebold's false nettle) which is a relative of the stinging nettle but the handsome, deeply veined leaves of this plant do not sting passing visitors. This clump-forming herbaceous perennial will grow in semi-shade provided the soil is moist but well-drained. Once established the plant may gently self seed.

Jill Raggett

[jillraggett]

Plant of the Day

Friday 26 July 2019

In the Exotic Garden at the Royal Horticultural Society Garden Wisley, UK, the Aralia cordata (spikenard) were adding drama to the borders. This dramatic, highly architectural perennial produces large leaves and these star burst flowers. As it said in one article “Give them plenty of elbow room, and then just enjoy”. There is also a golden foliage form, Aralia cordata ‘Sun King’.

Jill Raggett